rebecca_dsu

The smaller you get, the less pounds it takes to notice changes. When I was 320lbs, it took me a good 45 lb loss to see changes (and for others to notice). So since you started at 360ish, I'm honestly not surprised that you aren't noticing changes (but they are occurring and it is doing your body good internally!!). Hang in there! I bet in another 15 - 20 lbs you'll start to notice, and the smaller you get, the easier the changes will be noticed. Keep going!!

How far post op are you? Many folks report weeks and months of stalls and just like magic start to lose again. Is your body changing at all? Are you taking measurements? Still wearing the exact same clothing size since February? Have you tried mixing up your workout routine? Maybe it's time to try something different... biking, zumba, swimming, yoga, a fitness dvd. Sometimes just shaking things up will shake you out of a stall. (I don't think you are stuck here forever though ) Just keep going!!

Congrats to you!! I hope you have a swift recovery! Looking forward to watching you change your life

Heck out this thread from earlier today for ideas http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/78337-clothes/

Oh my goodness...that is amazing!! (My belly is my biggest problem area (and my upper legs).... your pictures are so very encouraging!

I don't mean to sound rude...but if what you said about what you are eating is true, you really need to have some tests done. Perhaps your thyroid isn't operating correctly. I took your stats and put them into the BMR Calculator and got 2,037 calories. This means at your weight/height/age, if you sat still all day, your body would need 2,037 calories a day just to function and to stay at the same weight. Lets say you are working out and burning 400 calories... that means if you ate 2,437 calories a day you would stay at 268. Something doesn't add up if you are only maintaining. Either you aren't being honest about how much you are eating or you have a metabolic/thyroid issue.... and I'm not sure that the sleeve is going to fix that for you. Have you shared your food journals with your nutritionist or doctor?

Love me some coconut shrimp to

I already have really thin hair (pre surgery), so I'm being diligent to take my biotin, multivitamins and vitamin e every day before surgery, as well as getting in atleast 80 to 100 grams of protein per day. I don't know if it will help or not, but it sure won't hurt to try

I just got my box of samples in yesterday of some different nectar flavors... I'm sippin on the Caribbean Cooler right now (just mixed with Water and some ice), and it is fantastic. It's the first one I've tried so far I really hope my tiny tummy agrees post surgery Thanks for the heads up on this one and the BJ's site. I think I'll just order several more sample packets as I don't want to buy a tub of something and be stuck with just that one flavor. Thanks!

Can you give us the amount amount he charges? I'm already set with Dr. Aceves in Mexico, but if his prices are competitive with Mexico, I'll be sure to share that with anyone who sees my success down the road and wants self pay in the US EDIT: Never mind, I saw it on the website $12,500. Did you find that to be true? Did you have any additional costs other than the $12,500? Thanks!

You have made a fantastic change in your life and you look beautiful! Great job on taking the risk and reaping the reward. Thanks for sharing! Your story is inspiration for us who are just beginning the sleeve journey

Several people have mentioned in the forums of having hiatal hernias fixed during their sleeve operation. I don't think you have to worry about them making you have 2 surgeries You can also use the "search" function (on the menu bar where it says forums, community, photos, etc...) and search the forums for other threads where people have mentioned this. Good luck!

It's great to take some before shots, but you are going to wish you had some better before pictures instead of just in the mirror, uncropped, unrotated ones that don't really give you the best idea of "before". Have you seen some of the fantastic ones people post full body side by side images of before and after? These shots just aren't going to give you justice when you get to goal and get ready to do your side by side images. Get that husband of yours to take some full body shots from all angles and some face shots from the front and side, or a good friend Good luck on your sleeve journey!!!!

I think it's just wrong... but I'm not a mom.

Whoohoo!! Another Onederlander!!! You guys are killin' it (this is the second post of onderland I've seen today) Great job!!

Yeehaw!!! Congrats!!! That is super exciting. Wait a minute...I thought NSV meant Non scale Victory...this is totally a scale victory! Haha!!!

So sorry you feel this way. But really...no 20 year old should be 230lbs either. Is there nothing you can do now that you couldn't do when you were heavier? Do you not feel better? Are you not able to move better or feel lighter? And if you wore a bikini at 230, I'm certain you were one of those gals who folks looked at and said "naw she didn't...someone tell her she doesn't look good in that". Sorry, I've never seen someone over 200lbs look "good" in a bikini. What you are talking about is vanity.... it's not about your health. Plastic surgery can take care of the lose skin. I just find it hard to believe you'd rather be fat, than be healthy and not be able to wear a bikini Here's the deal..every bad decision has consequences. The consequence of being obese is the fact you have more skin...and once you lose the weight, you have loose skin. It's just a "fact jack". So stop wishing you were fat again, and find you a nice slimming/sexy one piece. Ain't a dang thing wrong with a one piece. Or...find you a good plastic surgeon Chin up! It's not that bad...

Wow, that was brazen of your doc. But look at it this way (as I am): You have the ability to change the direction of your family. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree"...and what kind of tree are you? What is your child going to be like. Right now, you get to decide. Will you be the mom who enourages her kid to play video games because you can't get out and run and play with them? Will you be the mom who drives by McDonald's for a happy meal, or gives your kid liquid sugar (aka Capri Sun, Cokes, Gatorade) which makes them suffer in school or develop conditions like ADHD? Change your life now, get on a path of healthy eating now and movement now and change the kind of tree you are, so that baby you want is the shiniest, healthiest apple possible, and never has to go through what we are because they grew up with the best healthy roll model. A mom who ran around with them at the park, or road a bike beside them, or took them on hiking adventures at the local state park. A mom who introduced them to whole foods early in life so that they learned to love fruits and veggies instead of little debbie cakes and cokes. You are doing a great thing for you, your current family, and that future baby. Good luck to you!!

Are you drinking the isopure ready to drink, drinks...or the big tubs of isopure powder and mixing yourself with water and the crystal light?

It has been a ruff couple of weeks. I'm taking this food funeral thing a bit too far, and I've felt like crap and been depressed because of it. I know that the way I feel is because I'm eating the wrong things, not exercising like normal, and the scale is going up. I'm not sure if others out there are sugar addicts as well (meaning one of something is never enough, and you feel like a junkie when you haven't had sugar...but as soon as you do you are "all good" and can think straight again)....but I am so ready for this surgery. I'm ready for the pain and misery with having to deal with my food addiction in the weeks that follow, and that will be my "come clean" time. When I make it past about 7 days sugar free, I feel "normal" again...happy. But these days I can't seem to make it a day. (And I've been in counseling for 5 months now with no avail.....) Being that weak and lacking in self control feel so humiliating...but it's truth. I had planned to lose 10 lbs before going to Hawaii in a few weeks, but I feel so powerless right now, that I don't know if I can. I need to get back to "clean eating" even if just for the next two weeks to detox my digestive system (and brain). So starting tomorrow I'm going to. I hate the way sugar makes me feel. I seriously need this "intervention"....come on June 7th!!!

I'm not post op...but my doc gave me the following info regarding what "clear liquids" are. Fruit smoothies would not be an option because they are fruit...and most folks add yogurt to those. If you were to add fruit to something...that would be in the "puree" stage. Here's what's in my post op instructions: ABSOLUTELY no solid food!!! Clear Liquids consist of: sugar-free Jell-O, sugar-free Crystal Light, Propel Water, Protein Water by Kellogg’s, sugar-free popsicles, clear chicken, beef or vegetable broth, water, decaf tea, unsweetened apple grape or cranberry juice. ** A high quality protein supplement such as Isopure or unjury (made of whey Isolate protein) should be used in order to obtain approximately 70 grams of protein per day.

I'll be down in Mexicali! Good luck to you!

Ah man, I am so worried about this. I am such a drinker/chugger with meals. I can't imagine eating without drinking. I guess I really should start practicing soon...

Fantastic!! You are kind of having the same effect I did when I first started losing weight... the illusion of bigger chest because your tummy is shrinking! Fantastic!! great job!!

Molly where are you having your surgery done? (I'm June 7th too!)